After the Atlanta Braves signed free-agent center fielder B.J. Upton to a five-year, $75.25 million contract in late November, it was fair to wonder whether they would have the flexibility to make another offensive addition this offseason.

Turns out, they might not even have been done adding Uptons.

Right fielder Justin Upton, the younger brother of B.J. and the favorite trade bait of the Arizona Diamondbacks, almost certainly will be moved in the next few weeks. In fact, he nearly was moved this week before invoking his no-trade clause to block a deal that would have sent him to the Seattle Mariners.

Since that time, the Texas Rangers reportedly have backed off in trade talks with the Diamondbacks, leaving the Braves as arguably the front-runners to acquire Upton. The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies also are in the market for an outfielder, but neither appears to be a trade match. The Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles could offer the Diamondbacks the pitching prospects talent they seek, but neither team has expressed a desire to part with that young talent.

Aside from being a marketing dream (just imagine the classic-rock-like “Nobody Plays More Uptons!” T-shirts), the addition of another Upton makes plenty of sense for Atlanta.

Five reasons the Braves should make this happen:

They need an outfielder.

With Chipper Jones retired, the Braves plan to start Juan Francisco at third base and Martin Prado in left field. The versatile Prado can play either position, but Francisco never has been a full-time player in the majors. The third-base market is extremely weak, making it easier to plug in Prado there and upgrade in the outfield.

Upton is owed a very manageable $38.5 million over the next three years. Compare that to what free agent Michael Bourn—Atlanta’s outgoing center fielder who recently was mentioned as a candidate to re-sign—still is seeking in free agency, and Upton is a relative bargain (and five years younger with much more pop).

Upton is a dynamic young talent.

He is one season removed from a .289/.369/.529 slash line with 31 homers, 88 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. However, his inconsistency (one year up, one year down) is the primary reason Arizona is willing to deal him. And, yes, there are questions about his production away from Chase Field. During his five-plus seasons in the majors, Upton has a .937 OPS at home but a .731 mark on the road. But remember that many of those away games are played at pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium, AT&T Park and Petco Park.

Pick apart Upton’s game as much as you’d like—he also strike outs twice as much as he walks—but he is a potential 30-30 hitter with a good glove who has yet to enter his prime.

They must keep pace with the Washington Nationals.

Atlanta finished four games behind Washington last season, and the Nationals have improved this offseason with the additions of center fielder Denard Span and righthander Dan Haren).

Sure, there are two NL wild-card berths available as safety nets, but no team wants to enter spring training with such aspirations. Especially not a team that saw its promising 2012 season end with a wild-card loss at home.

Their outfielder would be intact for at least three years.

B.J. Upton is signed through the 2017 season, and right fielder Jason Heyward is under team control for the next three seasons. Justin Upton’s contract runs through the 2015 season. Having that trio locked up for the next three seasons would be quite a luxury and would allow Atlanta to attend to other needs.

The price won’t be as steep as it would have been. And they have the prospects to deal.

The Mariners were set to sacrifice a ton of top-flight talent to acquire Upton, but they are out of the picture. The Braves haven’t flinched in their refusal to meets the Diamondbacks’ demands thus far, and Arizona no longer has the leverage. The relationship between Upton and Arizona is seemingly beyond repair, and time is running short to avoid a very awkward scene at camp.

Make no mistake, though, Atlanta would have to include one of its prized pitching prospects, either Julio Teheran or Randall Delgado, in a package for Upton. And remember that the Braves already sent righthander Tommy Hanson to the Los Angeles Angels earlier this offseason.

Parting with prospects never is easy, but it sometimes is necessary. This is one of those times.